• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.283-288
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• 2017

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a notorious and ubiquitous virus in the swine industry. The susceptibility of the host to PCV2 infection is considered to be one factor associated with the dynamics of PCV2. The objective of this study was to verify the criteria for host susceptibility to PCV2, using blood parameters of post-weaned pigs naturally infected with the virus. The PCV2 DNA viral load, antibody titer, and leukopenia characteristics were measured in the serum extracted from the pigs at the 10th week. We classified the pigs into high (>5.0), intermediate (3.0 to 5.0), and low (<3.0) groups on the basis of the PCV2 viral load (log copies/ml), or as positive (${\leq}0.50$) and negative (>0.50) groups on the basis of antibody titer (sample-to-negative corrected ratio). Moreover, using these two categorized parameters, we suggested the criteria for classification into the susceptible and resistant groups. Statistical analyses revealed that pigs in the susceptible group had a significantly higher viral load (p<0.001) and negative antibody titer (p<0.001), as well as significantly lower leukocyte counts (p=0.018) and lower amounts of several leukocyte components (p<0.05), than pigs in the resistant group. We concluded that the susceptible group could be considered to have PCV2-induced leukopenia. Therefore, we suggest that the combined classifications of viral loads and anti-PCV2 antibodies can be used to determine PCV2-induced leukopenia in the subclinical PCV2 infection of post-weaned pig populations.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2018

Background: Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed neuropsychiatric diseases, but the underlying mechanism and medicine are not well-known. Although Panax ginseng has been reported to exert protective effects in various neurological studies, little information is available regarding its antidepressant effects. Methods: Here, we examined the antidepressant effect and underlying mechanism of P. ginseng extract (PGE) in a chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced depression model in mice. Results: Oral administration of PGE for 14 d decreased immobility (depression-like behaviors) time in forced swim and tail suspended tests after CRS induction, which corresponded with attenuation of the levels of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone, as well as attenuated c-Fos expression in the amygdala. PGE enhanced messenger RNA expression level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor but ameliorated microglial activation and neuroinflammation (the level of messenger RNA and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase) in the amygdala of mice after CRS induction. Interestingly, 14-d treatment with celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, and $N_{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, attenuated depression-like behaviors after CRS induction. Additionally, PGE inhibited the upregulation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 and heme oxygenase-1 pathways. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings suggest that PGE exerts antidepressant-like effect of CRS-induced depression by antineuroinflammatory and antioxidant (nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 activation) activities by inhibiting the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis mechanism. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential of components of P. ginseng as an alternative treatment of depression, including clinical trial evaluation.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 1991

A systematic study was conducted to identify and isolate a serologically pertinent antigen with high specific activity and low cross reactivity from Cysticercus parenchymal antigen. Differential centrifugation of the homogenate yield three particulate and one soluble fractions ; the $480{\times}G$ pellets($CyL_2$), the $7650{\times}G$ pellet($CyL_3$), the $100000{\times}G$ pellet($CyL_4$), and $100000{\times}G$ supernatant($CyL_6$). We compared antigenicity of these antigens to that or cystic fluid antigens($CyF_1$), saline extract of cystic wall($CyL_1$), and n-butanol treated $GyL_4$ antigen ($CyL_6$) based on SDS-PAGE and immunoblot techniques. The data obtained were as follows : 1) The ratio of O.D. value of ELISA against cysticercosis positive pool sera to that of negative pool sera was highest when using $CyF_1$ as antigen. However the ratio was relatively low in case of $CyL_{3.4}$ and $CyL_5$. 2) We have noted in previous paper that most strong antigenic activities are present in 63Kd band with low cross reactivities. An effective serologic reagent must contain components that are recognized by most infected sera. 63Kd band met this criteria and could be considered as a reliable band for the diagnosis of cysticercosis. As far as 63Kd band concern, $CyL_5$ showed most strong activities without disturbance of cross reaction by EITB in spite of low applicability to microplate ELISA. 3) $CyL_5$ could detect the serum antibody of cysticercosis even in very low titers, around cut-off values of microplate ELISA, by immunoblot. It also could detect the cross reactivities of Echinococcus species, which showed high absorbance value in micro plate ELISA and some sparganosis cases. Further purification of this antigen will be able to represents a antigen that can be used in the diagnosis of cysticercosis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2005

The ethanolic extracts of the leaves and bulbs of Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum (Liliaceae) collected from Daegwallyoung (D) and Ullung Island (U) in Korea were obtained using three different extracting methods. The first extracts, DL-1 DB-1, UL-1 and UB-1, were obtained from leaves (L) and bulbs (B) dried at $90^{\circ}C$, respectively, and the second extracts, DL-2, DB-2, UL-2 and UB-2, were obtained by extracting the leaves and bulbs of fresh plant parts. The third extracts DL-3, DB-3, UL-3 and UB-3 were obtained by incubating leaves and bulbs at $36^{\circ}C$. The six extracts obtained from A. victorialis var. platyphyllum at Daegwanllyoung (cultivated site) were orally administered to examine for a possible antihepatotoxic effect in $CCl_4-induced$ rats. DL-1 exhibited the most pronounced effect. The extracts inhibited serum ALT, AST, SDH, ${\gamma}-GT$, ALP and LDH activities elevated by $CCl_4$ injection and attenuated decreased glutathione S-transferase, glutatione reductase and ${\gamma}-glutamylcysteine$ synthetase activities and a decreased hepatic glutathione. However, the extracts obtained from Ullung Is. (native site) were less active than the extracts from Daegwallyoung, suggesting that A. victorialis var. platyphyllum from the cultivated site is more useful for functional food than of native site. These results also suggest that the antihepatotoxic effect is due to a higher content of hepatic glutathione. Gas chromatography of the twelve extracts showed significantly different sulfides, disulfides or trisulfides contents belonging to volatile sulfur substances (VSS). Nine components were identified on the basis of their mass spectra, namely, dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, diallyl disulfide, dipropyl disulfide, allyl methyl sulfide, allyl methyl trisulfide, 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin, 3,4-dihydro-3-vinyl-1,2-dithiin, and allithiamine. Extract DL-1 had the highest VSS content. Dried plant materials contained larger amounts of the VSSs than other extracts, and the leaves contained larger amount than the bulbs. These results suggest that heat treatment increases the antiheaptotoxic ability of A. victorialis var. platyphyllum by increasing the proportion of VSSs.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.317-324
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• 1990

Liposome was labelled with $^{99m}Tc$ after negative charged liposome was formed with combination of a few lipid components. $^{99m}Tc$ liposome was injected through the tail vein of C3H mice bearing fibrosarcoma and biodistribution of $^{99m}Tc$ liposome was evaluated. The results were as follows: 1) We confirmed formation of liposome which was small unillamellar and multilamellar vesicles. 2) In this experiment the optimal concentration of $SnCl_2$ was $156{\mu}g/ml$ to label liposome with $^{99m}Tc$ and labelling efficiency was 95%. 3) The labelled liposome was stable when it was incubated with human serum for 24 hours. Mean labelling efficiency was 94% at 24 hour. 4) The main uptake sites of Tc-99m liposome were liver and spleen. It showed significantly higher uptake than $^{99m}Tc$ HSA (p < 0.001). 5) $^{99m}Tc$ liposome uptake in tumor tissue was not significantly higher than $^{99m}Tc$ HSA uptake. In conclusion, $^{99m}Tc$ liposome disclosed high labelling efficiency and was highly stable. Liver and spleen were main uptake sites of $^{99m}Tc$ liposome. The uptake mechanism of $^{99m}Tc$ liposome also seemed to be different from that of $^{99m}Tc$ HSA. We conclude that $^{99m}Tc$ liposome would be a promising agents for the imaging of some tumor.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2018

Bilirubin has an anti-inflammatory effect as an endogenous antioxidant and has been reported to be inversely correlated with hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance. On the other hand, there is a lack of research evaluating the association between bilirubin and metabolic syndrome compared to liver-specific indicators. This study examined the association between the total bilirubin and metabolic syndrome prevalence in Korean adults who underwent health screening compared to ALT and GGT. This cross sectional study included 22,568 adult males and females aged 20 years or older who underwent a health examination at the General Hospital of Gyeonggi Province from March 2015 to February 2018. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) guidelines. In both genders, the metabolic syndrome diagnosed group had higher liver enzymes, and the total bilirubin and direct bilirubin were lower than those without the metabolic syndrome risk factors. The serum total bilirubin showed a weak inverse correlation with abdominal obesity (r=-0.066 vs r=-0.055) and triglyceride (r=-0.127 vs r=-0.136) in both males and females, which is weaker than ALT and GGT The data were statistically significant. In addition, total bilirubin as well as ALT and GGT in both men and women were not predictors of the likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.237-248
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• 2007

Objectives : Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Etiological studies of diabetes and its complications showed that oxidative stress might play a major role. Therefore, many efforts have been tried to regulate free oxygen radicals for treating diabetes and its complications. Iksujisundan has been known to be effective for the treatment of diabetes. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of Iksujisundan on renal function, peroxynitrite(ONOO-) scavenging activity and polyol pathway in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods : The crushed Iksujisundan was extracted 3 times, each time with 3 volumes of methyl alcohol at 60$^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The extract was filtered and evaporated under a reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to yield 87.8g. Iksujisundan extract was orally administreted at 100 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 20 days to the diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin(60mg/kg). The effects of Iksujisundan extract on the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were observed by measuring the serum level of glucose, insulin, lipid components, creatinine and BUN, and also the kidney levels of superoxide anion radical(${\cdot}$O2-), nitric oxide(NO) and ONOO-, and also the enzyme activities involved in the polyol pathway. Results : The effects of Iksujisundan on the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with regards to body weight, blood glucose and indulin levels, creatinine and BUN levels, total cholesterol and triglyceride lavels, and HDL-cholesterol levels were all shown to be good enough to prevent and cure the diabetes and its complications. Iksujisundan inhibited the generation of ${\cdot}$O2-,NO and ONOO- in the kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Renal aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were increased in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were reversed toward natural activities. Conclusions : Iksujisundan might inhibit the development of diabetes and its complications by scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, thereby by reducing oxidative stresses and also by regulating the activities of polyol pathway enzymes, all of which could help to recover kidney function.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 1984

A study was carried out to determine the nutritive effect of earthworm on rats. Male albino rats weighing 72.3${\pm}$1.7 g and the female rats weighing 71.4${\pm}$1.4 g were divided into 3 groups for each sez, respectively. The diet groups were control diet(group I), a diet of 2% earthworm flour supplemented to the control diet at every 3 days interval(group II) and a chief of 2% earth-worm flour added to the control diet everyday(group III). Comparing with control group, female rats in group III showed higher tendency of food consumption. Body weight gain of male rats in group III was more than that of control group. Food and protein effeciency ratios were not influenced by 2% earthworm flour added diet in both male and female rats. While the weights of heart and lung of male rats in group H were higher than those of control group, there was little difference in the weights of liver, kidney and spleen between control group and experimental groups. Hematocrit values of female rats in experimental groups were higher than those of control group, however there was little difference in male rats between control group and experimental groups. There was little : difference in the content of hemoglobin in blood, total protein, albumin, A/G ratio, total cholesterol and glucose in serum between control group and experimental groups.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.224-231
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• 1979

The safety of the sweetening component of stevia was studied by administrating it to the rats. The $LD_{50}$ determined by intraperitoneal injection was 3,400 mg/Kg as the stevia extract containing 50 % stevioside, i.e. $LD_{50}$ of stevioside was more than 1,700 mg/Kg. Oral administration of large quantities of the stevia extract for 56 days resulted in no effect on the growth of rats. The analyses of total blood (RBC, WBC, Hb and Hct), 17 blood serum components including total protein, glucose, cholesterol, GOT, and 11 items of findings on the liver tissues including nuclear deterioration of liver cells, proliferation of Kupffer cells, fibrosis of portal area showed no significant differences between control and treatments except lactate dehydrogenase activity after 56 day-oral administration of the extract. From the results obtained, it was supposed that the stevia extract/stevioside revealed no acute or sub-acute toxic effects on rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.865-870
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• 2003

Opuntia ficus-indica is widely used as folk medicine for burned wound, edema and indigestion, etc. After the adaptation of rats for seven days, OF (200mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally every day for two weeks. On the 14th day, $3.3m\ell$ of $CCl_4$ (50% $CCl_4$ : Olive oil = 1 : 1) was treated to rats and on the 15th day, they were operated. We measured the levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total lipid and triglyceride (TG) in serum and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue. Opuntia ficus-indica and $CCl_4$-treated group (OFC) significantly decreased lipid peroxidation by 32.6% compared to $CCl_4$-treated abnomal group (CTA). Total lipid and TC of OFC administered group were lower than those of CTA group. Cholesterol levels showed significant effect in OFC group. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in OFC administered group were decreased by 12.7% and 17.4%, respectively, compared to those of CTA group. HDL-cholesterol in OFC administration group was increased by 19.7% compared to CTA group. This finding suggests that lipid peroxidation was inhibited in the significant level when $CCl_4$-induced rats were treated with OF. Based on this analysis, further study to identify the active components in this sample is warranted.